NBA mock draft 2024: Excellent picks for each crew

Magnificence is within the eye of the beholder within the 2024 NBA Draft. A whole draft cycle has come and gone with out the emergence of a transparent No. 1 general prospect. That is the kind of draft that sure to trigger huge disagree on particular person boards for executives even inside the similar crew.

A couple of storylines have emerged. Three younger French gamers — Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, and Tidjane Salaun — every emerged as lottery picks, with Sarr and Risacher every reportedly incomes heavy consideration for the highest general choose. Kentucky guards Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard zoomed previous their extra highly-touted teammates to turn into probably top-10 alternatives. The G League Ignite had such a nasty 12 months that the NBA shut this system down completely, and all of their ballyhooed prospects have slipped since our earliest projections.

With a lot disagreement operating by means of this class, I took a crack on the choose I might make for each crew. Let’s leap into it.

1 Atlanta Hawks – Alex Sarr, C/F, Perth Wildcats (France)

Taking Sarr with the No. 1 choose is smart for the Hawks each by way of crew match and greatest out there expertise. Sarr has the very best upside of any participant within the draft because of his world-class bodily instruments: at 7’1 with an almost 7’5 wingspan, he’s an excellent run-and-jump athlete who burns rubber within the open flooring and makes performs above the rim on each ends. Sarr is much riskier than a typical No. 1 general choose as a result of he doesn’t provide a lot offensive creation potential. He’s a play-finisher at his core, however fortunately the Hawks have a superb playmaking level guard in Trae Younger to set him up. Sarr’s defensive ceiling is immense, and he’s precisely the kind of participant you need cleansing up Younger’s errors. Younger is barely 25 years previous and is simply now starting his prime. A trio of Sarr, Younger, and Jaylen Johnson is a superb younger basis, and I just like the match of younger middle Onyeka Okongwu subsequent to Sarr within the short-term for his potential to play out of the roll extra skillfully. There aren’t any nice decisions at No. 1 on this draft, however Sarr is the perfect one.

2. Washington Wizards – Ron Holland, F, G League Ignite

The Wizards are so distant from competition that they shouldn’t contemplate current day roster match with this choose. Washington wants the participant with the very best long-term ceiling, and to me that’s G League Ignite ahead Ron Holland. Holland was the front-runner to go No. 1 general in the beginning of the season, however an inefficient 12 months with the Ignite full of shedding now has him dropping out of the top-10 in some projections. NBA groups are overthinking it method an excessive amount of if that occurs: Holland’s athleticism, high-motor, youth, and two-way upside makes him one of many best possible prospects on this class. Holland was overmatched in a high-usage function for the Ignite taking part in in opposition to execs, however he nonetheless had some super flashes. He’s an elite downhill rim attacker who practically led the G League in steals this season. The large query for Holland shall be his leap shot, which stays a piece in progress to place it kindly. Nonetheless, Holland’s athleticism and long-term potential for secondary shot creation makes him essentially the most gifted participant on the board.

3. Houston Rockets – Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky

The Rockets really feel like the right crew to make Sheppard the perfect model of himself within the NBA. The Kentucky guard was absurdly environment friendly in his freshman season, however he’s undersized and isn’t a pure on-ball creator. Fortuitously, the Rockets get loads of creation out of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jalen Inexperienced, and Sheppard is the perfect kind of function participant to place round them. Sheppard is an unbelievable three-point shooter — 52 p.c from deep — and that can work properly for a Rockets crew that completed No. 23 in three-point share this season. Sheppard additionally had a ridiculous 70 p.c true taking pictures mark with Kentucky, so if he’s taking pictures the ball it’s in all probability getting into. Sheppard isn’t actually some extent guard and he’s going to be beneath the everyday NBA threshold for each dimension and athleticism, however he’s so expert that he’s value taking at this choose.

4. San Antonio Spurs – Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg (France)

The Spurs have the league’s greatest franchise cornerstone in Victor Wembanyama, and two top-10 picks (No. 4 and No. 8) which provides them unbelievable flexibility on this spot. San Antonio actually wants a shot creator, however there’s so many good level guards out there — Nikola Subject, Isaiah Collier, and Rob Dillingham — that they will go for one more place right here and nonetheless fill that want with their subsequent choose. Risacher isn’t somebody I’ve considered as a authentic top-5 prospect due to his lack of creation potential, however subsequent to Wemby he may merely run the ground, hit photographs, and supply some defensive ball strain. Risacher’s three-point shot ran somewhat extra hot-and-cold this season than groups would have appreciated, however so long as he shoots it, he must be a wonderful match round Wembanyama.

5. Detroit Pistons – Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky

This choose got here all the way down to the Dillingham and Matas Buzelis. Whereas Buzelis is a greater positional match on the roster, Dillingham solutions Detroit’s two greatest ability questions together with his taking pictures and playmaking. The Kentucky freshman is an electrical offensive participant, able to burning the opposing protection whether or not he’s on or off the ball. He’s a lethal three-point shooter with actual NBA vary and shot versatility, and he’s glorious relocating off the ball to proceed stressing the protection. Dillingham can be an excellent playmaker with the ball in his arms, utilizing a good deal with and the specter of his pull-up to arrange scoring probabilities for himself and his teammates. He’s simply very small and really weak, struggling to play by means of contact at each ends. The Pistons have loads of massive, bodily gamers to assist insulate Dillingham defensively, and his creation potential may lastly make their offense sing.

6. Charlotte Hornets – Matas Buzelis, F, G League Ignite

This choose got here all the way down to Citadel vs. Buzelis, and both participant can be a pleasant connective piece between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. I’ll go together with Buzelis as a result of he’s larger, affords extra rim safety, and to me has a greater taking pictures projection. Buzelis is actually cellular for a 6’10 ahead, and he confirmed shocking toughness as an inside defender on the rim this season. His offense was far behind the place it was anticipated to be, largely as a result of he struggled to shoot from deep after encouraging taking pictures numbers in highschool. If the shot bounces again, Buzelis has sufficient creativity and imaginative and prescient to assault titled defenses off the bounce. He’ll clearly must get stronger, however he’s an excellent alternative for Miles Bridges across the Hornets’ younger stars.

7. Portland Path Blazers – Donovan Clingan, C, UConn

Clingan was tremendous impactful for on each of UConn’s back-to-back nationwide championship runs. He has elite dimension and size at 7’2 with a 7’7 wingspan, and initiatives as a superb rim protector within the league. Clingan impressed together with his passing potential this season, and the Blazers have already got a a number of nice athletes on the roster who may buzz round him for handoffs and cuts. I do fear about Clingan’s scoring given his lack of vertical pop across the basket. It’s truthful to query his conditioning, too, as he solely performed half the out there minutes for UConn this season. Finally, the Blazers don’t want one other guard or questionable backcourt shooter, and Clingan’s straightforward translation as a shot blocker is value including.

Photograph by Srdjan Stevanovic/Euroleague Basketball by way of Getty Photographs

8. San Antonio Spurs – Nikola Subject, G, Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)

Subject suffered a devastating ACL harm final month, and now may very well be set to overlook his total rookie season as he recovers. Earlier than the harm, he hung out because the No. 1 participant on our board for his mixture of downhill rim attacking, ending, and playmaking. Subject vs. Collier is a troublesome name at this level after the harm, however Subject will get the sting for his glorious manufacturing in opposition to grown males within the Adriatic League. Subject’s defensive issues don’t fear me as a lot subsequent to Wembanyama.

9. Memphis Grizzlies – Stephen Citadel, G, UConn

The Grizzlies are hoping to spring again into competition subsequent season with the return of Ja Morant, and Citadel is the kind of participant who matches properly round their incumbent famous person. Citadel may see himself as some extent guard within the NBA, however he’s at his greatest as a defensive stopper who can play a extra connective function on offense. The Grizzlies have an excellent younger core in place with Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and the emergence of GG Jackson. Citadel is form of participant who can match seamlessly between them by combating for free balls, creating havoc defensively, and hitting the glass. He simply must get to work fixing that leap shot.

10. Utah Jazz – Isaiah Collier, G, USC

Collier is among the greatest creation bets on this class as a bruising downhill guard with tons of velocity and good passing imaginative and prescient. USC’s crew context devoid of shooters and lob threats didn’t put Collier in the perfect place to succeed, however his tape remains to be full of some tantalizing flashes. It’s attainable a number of the turnover points he confirmed in faculty shall be mitigated by superior spacing and athleticism round him. He undoubtedly must work on his shot, which ought to begin together with his 67 p.c free throw percentile for somebody who will get to the road quite a bit. Nonetheless, Collier’s energy, velocity, and shiftiness as a ball handler mixed together with his imaginative and prescient offers him an opportunity to ultimately be an offensive engine the backcourt some day.

11. Chicago Bulls – Tyler Smith, F, G League Ignite

The Bulls must be hoping that one of many 10 gamers taken above them on this mock falls on draft night time. If it doesn’t occur, there’s 4 gamers I like for this choose: Ignite ahead Tyler Smith, Indiana middle Kel’el Ware, Baylor middle Yves Missi, and Windfall guard Devin Carter. Smith will get the nod right here as a result of he’s a knockdown shooter who measured 6’9 barefoot and in addition had a ton of dunks this season. Smith was actually the one Ignite participant to exceeded expectations this season, displaying off deep vary, a fast set off, and difficult shot-making potential. He wants to enhance his ball dealing with and defensive consciousness to hit his highest outcomes, nevertheless it’s exhausting to search out gamers this massive who can shoot this properly.

12. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder – Cody Williams, F, Colorado

Because the younger brother of Thunder star Jalen Williams, there’s no higher place to cease Cody Williams’ fall within the draft. The youthful Williams badly wants so as to add energy to his sub 180-pound body, however he in any other case has nice instruments for an NBA wing. With a 7’1 wingspan and spectacular open flooring attacking potential, Williams is the kind of lengthy and cellular wing the NBA all the time covets. He’s a extremely good finisher, shot the ball properly on low quantity, and flashed some good passing potential when the acquired the possibility. He’s simply painfully skinny and nonetheless must do critical working tightening up his deal with. I fear about Williams’ lack of taking pictures quantity, however Chip Engelland is the correct man to repair that. If Jalen needs to play together with his little bro, this choose makes excellent sense.

13. Sacramento Kings – Tidjane Salaun, F, Cholet (France)

It is a spot for an upside swing. Salaun is tremendous younger (turns 19 in Aug.), completely gigantic for a ahead, appears to play with a excessive motor, and has some potential to develop as a shooter. He’s nonetheless very uncooked at this level and wishes affected person growth, however the long-term payoff may very well be value it for a crew just like the Kings that would use a ceiling raiser. I like his potential to hit the glass and contribute as a “rubbish man” whereas his ability degree develops.

14. Portland Path Blazers – Dalton Knecht, F, Tennessee

It’s wild to assume Knecht is similar age as Jalen Williams, the OKC Thunder wing who spent three years in faculty and now two years within the NBA. Knecht took a protracted path to get so far that concerned two seasons of JUCO ball and two years at Northern Colorado, however his manufacturing and expertise was unattainable to disclaim at Tennessee. He’s among the finest shooters within the class with a straightforward three-point stroke and actual shot versatility. He additionally has an excellent body and sufficient athletic potential to assault a closeout. He’s going to be a nasty defender, and he’ll flip 24 years previous as a rookie, however his excessive quantity, extremely correct taking pictures can be a pleasant match round Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.

Photograph by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs

15. Miami Warmth – Devin Carter, G, Windfall

Carter simply screams Warmth Tradition, and never simply because his father, former NBA guard Anthony Carter, helped develop Max Strus and Gabe Vincent as a former participant growth coach in Miami. Carter was all the time a tenacious on-ball defender, however he blossomed as a shooter in his junior 12 months at Windfall. He showcased sufficient quantity (greater than 11 three-pointers tried per 100 possessions) and shot versatility to make you imagine he wasn’t only a one-year surprise as a shooter. With lengthy arms, a powerful chest, and main leaping potential, he’ll be a defensive pest from day one whereas additionally including one other perimeter scorer.

16. Philadelphia 76ers – DaRon Holmes II, C/F, Dayton

Holmes was one of many best possible gamers in faculty basketball as a junior at Dayton by making critical enhancements as a shooter, passer, and ball handler. He’s an fascinating match subsequent to Joel Embiid as a result of he may give the Sixers backup 5 minutes whereas additionally offering one other massive physique to play subsequent to the one-time MVP. Holmes is a bit undersized for a middle at 6’9 barefoot with a 7-foot wingspan, however he’s a extremely good curler, good passer, and highly effective finisher with above the rim leaping potential. His faculty manufacturing was so unbelievable that it feels silly to low cost his NBA translation.

17. Los Angeles Lakers – Kel’el Ware, C, Indiana

The Lakers may actually go in any course right here, however I like Ware or Yves Missi for the perfect general gamers on the board. Ware will get the sting for elevated taking pictures potential after hitting 42 p.c of his threes on low quantity this 12 months at Indiana. Ware appears to be like the a part of a lottery choose as a protracted, athletic middle oozing with pure presents. He doesn’t all the time make a number of efforts or combat by means of contact, and that usually leaves scouts wanting extra out of him. Nonetheless, his intersection of dimension, leaping, and taking pictures potential is difficult to search out this late in a weak draft. He may very well be an fascinating match backing up or taking part in alongside Anthony Davis.

18. Orlando Magic – Jared McCain, G, Duke

McCain is among the greatest shooters on this class, and that makes him a pleasant match for a Magic crew that desperately wants taking pictures. The Duke freshman hit 41.4 p.c of his threes this 12 months, and caught hearth from deep within the NCAA match. Whereas he’s not a pure shot creator off the dribble, he may play properly off Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and supply them with flooring spacing.

19. Toronto Raptors – Yves Missi, C, Baylor

The Raptors want excessive upside expertise as they begin a rebuild round Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, and Missi is the very best upside choose left on the board to me. Missi simply began taking part in the sport a couple of years in the past, nevertheless it’s exhausting to search out bigs this fluid athletically. He’s going to guard the rim defensively, and slam residence feeds from the dunkers spot and off lobs to start out his profession. He additionally confirmed some consolation attacking the rim off the dribble. With a late choose in a weak draft, getting somebody as massive and athletic as Missi can be a pleasant worth.

Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photographs

20. Cleveland Cavaliers – Ja’Kobe Walter, G/F, Baylor

Walter was projected as a lottery choose for a lot of the season and will go a lot greater than this. The 6’5 guard is an off-ball scorer who can house the ground together with his leap shot, and defend larger guards. His jumper ran hot-and-cold this 12 months, and his incapability to create separation off the bounce in opposition to faculty defenders limits his upside. Nonetheless, each crew is on the lookout for gamers like Walter who could make an influence without having to carry the ball, and this might be a pleasant worth if he falls this far.

21. New Orleans Pelicans – Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke

Filipowski will in all probability go a lot greater than this, however it will be a pleasant little bit of luck for the Pelicans if he he was nonetheless out there at this level. Duke’s sophomore middle is among the most expert massive males within the class: an excellent decision-maker as a passer, a succesful three-point shooter, and a troublesome inside scorer. He lacks splendid size and velocity for an NBA massive man, but when his shot develops, he may give New Orleans a giant man who can house the ground and get the ball to Zion Williamson and firm.

22. Phoenix Suns – Tyler Kolek, G, Marquette

I’ll purchase the imaginative and prescient of Kolek as a troublesome lead guard who can play on- and off-the-ball whereas getting the rock to Phoenix’s many perimeter stars. The Suns will probably look to buy this choose, however Kolek is a participant who may give them competent level guard play on a value managed contract in the event that they determine to maintain it.

23. Milwaukee Bucks – Tristan da Silva, F, Colorado

Tristan da Silva brings a mixture of dimension and taking pictures that will match the Bucks like a glove. He hit 38.6 p.c of his threes and 78.6 p.c of his free throws throughout a productive four-year profession at Colorado. He has good dimension measuring at 6’8 barefoot, however he struggles to play bodily on each ends. Fortuitously the Bucks have loads of physicality within the beginning lineup, permitting somebody like da Silva to easily spot up and hit photographs.

24. New York Knicks – Zach Edey, C, Purdue

I’ve already written a protracted scouting report on Edey, however right here’s the cliff notes: he’s completely huge (7’4 barefoot, 7’10 wingspan, 300 kilos), he’s in nice form and performs with a excessive motor, and he was one of the productive faculty gamers of all-time. Given Mitchell Robinson’s lack of sturdiness and Isaiah Hartenstein’s impending free company, Edey has a case each because the match and greatest out there expertise at this level within the draft. His unbelievable offensive rebounding, expert inside scoring, and unparalleled dimension and manufacturing makes him a straightforward guess to take at this level.

Photograph by Chris Coduto/Getty Photographs

25. New York Knicks – Jaylon Tyson, G/F, Cal

Tyson is a well-rounded offensive wing who shined as he moved right into a main function for Cal this season. After taking pictures 40 p.c from three as a sophomore at Texas Tech, Tyson transferred to Cal noticed an enormous spike in utilization. Whereas his three-point share dipped to 36 p.c, he confirmed extra quantity and extra shot versatility with defenses keyed in on him. He’s an excellent ball handler for his dimension with first rate passing flashes, giving him the power to influence the sport off the ball whereas additionally operating secondary pick-and-rolls. He’s the kind of participant who can slot in quite a lot of offensive roles, and that’s good for a Knicks crew with an already deep roster.

26. Washington Wizards – Bub Carrington, G, Pitt

Carrington is a talented pull-up shooter with glorious dimension for a guard, and that provides him a number of the highest upside of any participant nonetheless out there. He appears to be like way more comfy taking pictures off the bounce than on spot-ups, and he didn’t rating very effectively (53 p.c true taking pictures) partially as a result of he largely lived off a weight loss program of powerful photographs. Nonetheless, his potential to create his personal look and shoot excessive of professional defenders makes him a pleasant developmental guard within the Wizards’ backcourt.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves – Pacome Dadiet, F, Ulm (France)

Dadiet has an intriguing mixture of dimension and athleticism, and he put up environment friendly scoring numbers at an excellent younger age this season for German league crew Ulm. Not turning 19 till July, Dadiet shot 35.8 p.c from three and completed with 61.9 p.c true taking pictures. He’s largely an off-ball participant proper now who will attempt to make an influence on cuts and spot-ups whereas additionally hitting the glass. He’s an attractive long-term guess at this level within the draft.

28. Denver Nuggets – Johnny Furphy, F, Kansas

Furphy’s rise to NBA radars has been outstanding. He went from somewhat recognized prospect in Australia to a Kansas decide to a possible first spherical choose all in lower than a 12 months’s time. It’s straightforward to see what scouts like about him: Furphy has good athletic instruments as a 6’8 wing, he scored effectively, and he shot the ball solidly from three (35 p.c). He wants a affected person strategy from the crew attempting to develop him as a result of that is all taking place so shortly.

29. Utah Jazz – Kyshawn George, F, Miami

George wasn’t anticipated to be a one-and-one, however he caught the eye of NBA scouts for his taking pictures potential as a protracted 6’8 wingspan. George shouldn’t be an amazing athlete and struggled to attain effectively contained in the arc whereas taking most of his area objectives from three-point vary. He did some one thing as a passer when given the chance, which may be an untapped space of upside. Tall shooters are a fairly good guess at this level within the draft, and the Jazz are ready to take a affected person strategy with a long-term guess on George.

30. Boston Celtics – Izan Almansa, C/F, G League Ignite

It may be greatest to hand-wave this previous season for the Ignite prospects with such a horrible crew context and a lot shedding. Earlier than he signed with the G League, Almansa appeared like certainly one of Europe’s most efficient prospects with three FIBA MVP awards in youth competitions to his identify. A tad over 6’9 barefoot with a 7’1 wingspan, Almansa is a succesful DHO set off man who can even play with energy inside. He’s a tad small for a middle and he’s not the perfect athlete, however he nonetheless has sufficient dimension and smarts to discover a pathway to a productiveness within the NBA.